Ford Puma Remains UK's Best-Selling Car Amidst Sluggish EV Demand

15th Jan 2025

The Ford Puma, once again, grabbed the top spot as the UK’s best-selling car in 2024. SUVs and 4x4s also took center stage, becoming the country’s favourite vehicle segment for the first time, as per data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Last year, the Puma just edged out the Kia Sportage. Like, barely—1,177 more registrations (48,340 in total). The Sportage tried, but nope. Meanwhile, the Nissan Qashqai, which ruled the sales chart back in 2022, tumbled to third place. More than 42,000 Qashqais hit the roads, followed by over 34,000 quirky little Nissan Jukes. Tesla’s Model Y, an electric vehicle, rounded out the top five and is set for a facelift soon.

Even though the market grew by around 3% compared to 2023, the picture wasn’t all rosy. Electric vehicles (EVs) claimed a record 19.6% share, spiking to 31% in December as manufacturers pushed hard to meet EV quotas. Yet, private buyers weren’t as enthusiastic. Only 10% opted for EVs, and private car sales as a whole fell below 2020 levels, a time plagued by lockdowns and supply chain chaos.

In total, 1.95 million new cars were registered in 2024. That’s two years of growth back-to-back. But the numbers tell another story: fleet buyers dominated, snapping up six out of every ten cars, while private sales dropped nearly 9%.

Petrol was still king. It accounted for 52% of the market. Electric cars came next, followed by full hybrids at 13.4% and plug-in hybrids at 8.6%. Diesel, once a major player, now scrapes the bottom with just 6.3%.

SMMT’s chief, Mike Hawes, pointed to a wider selection of EVs as a factor in their rising popularity. A staggering 133 different models are now on offer. Manufacturers sweetened the deal with an estimated £4 billion in discounts, which Hawes described as making it “a great time to buy a BEV.” However, he warned these incentives can’t last forever.

Despite the push, EV sales still missed the government’s 22% target under its ZEV Mandate. Next year, that goal jumps to 28%, but the SMMT predicts EVs will only hit about 24% in 2025. Hawes openly questioned whether meeting such targets without continued incentives is even feasible.

The government has opened consultations on the ZEV Mandate, but changes won’t happen overnight. Pressure on manufacturers will likely grow throughout the year. Hawes remarked that new models could boost sales but called the current situation "challenging."

In a round table with ministers, manufacturers voiced concerns about the mandate’s cost. Even those on track to comply this year believe a review is necessary. As Hawes put it, “The cost of compliance isn’t sustainable.”

Top UK Cars of 2024 (Preliminary Data)